The Samsung Galaxy A72 5G represented a compelling blend of 5G connectivity and affordability when it launched. Now, with the Galaxy S21 FE 5G available, offering a taste of the flagship experience at a more accessible price point, the choice becomes less clear. This comparison dives deep into the key differences between these two Samsung devices, helping you determine which best suits your needs and budget.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 888 (or Exynos 2100) chipset delivers significantly faster performance, making it ideal for gaming and demanding applications. While the A72 5G offers good battery life, the S21 FE’s faster charging and overall responsiveness justify the price difference.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | LTE | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | SA/NSA | 1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat19 1600/200 Mbps, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| | - | 41, 66, 71, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | Not announced yet | 2022, January 04 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2022, January 07 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 165 x 77.4 x 8.4 mm (6.50 x 3.05 x 0.33 in) | 155.7 x 74.5 x 7.9 mm (6.13 x 2.93 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 203 g (7.16 oz) | 177 g (6.24 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Unspecified | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~84.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.7% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, 800 nits (HBM) | Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+ |
| | - | Always-on display |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (2x2.2 GHz Kryo 570 & 6x1.8 GHz Kryo 570) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 1Octa-core (1x2.9 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.80 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.2 GHz Cortex-A55) - Version 2 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM7225 Snapdragon 750G 5G (8 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) - Version 1Exynos 2100 (5 nm) - Version 2 |
| GPU | Adreno 619 | Adreno 660 - Version 1Mali-G78 MP14 - Version 2 |
| OS | Android 12, One UI 4.1 | Android 12, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | No |
| Internal | 128GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM | 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, panorama, HDR | LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama |
| Quad | 64 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.7X", 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm
5 MP (macro) | - |
| Single | - | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
8 MP, f/2.4, 76mm (telephoto), 1/4.5", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.74", 0.8µm |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 32-bit/384kHz audio |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes (market/region dependent) | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | Unspecified | Unspecified |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+ | Bixby natural language commands and dictation
Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified)
Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 25W wired | 25W wired, PD3.0, 50% in 30 min
15W wireless
Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 5000 mAh | Li-Ion 4500 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Awesome Black, Awesome White, Awesome Violet, Awesome Blue | White, Graphite, Lavender, Olive |
| Models | SM-A726B, SM-A726B/DS | SM-G990B, SM-G990B/DS, SM-G990U, SM-G990U1, SM-G990W, SM-G990E, SM-G9900, SM-G990B2, SM-G990U2, SM-G990W2, SM-G990U3 |
| Price | About 550 EUR | € 199.00 / $ 143.95 / £ 154.99 / ₹ 29,990 |
| SAR | - | 0.77 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.95 W/kg (head) 1.48 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 92h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.9 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 566529 (v8), 719696 (v9)
GeekBench: 3049 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 56fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy A72 5G
- More affordable price point
- Good battery life (92h endurance)
- 5G connectivity
- Slower processor (Snapdragon 750G)
- Less vibrant display
- Limited camera features
Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G
- Flagship-level performance (Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100)
- Brighter and more accurate display
- Faster charging (25W with PD3.0, wireless charging)
- Higher price
- Potential for Exynos variant to run warmer
- Similar battery endurance to A72 5G
Display Comparison
The Galaxy S21 FE boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 792 nits, compared to an unspecified brightness for the A72 5G. This translates to better visibility outdoors. While both feature similar infinite contrast ratios (nominal), the S21 FE’s panel is likely to offer superior color accuracy and viewing angles, typical of its flagship positioning. The A72 5G’s display, while adequate, is a clear step down in terms of overall quality and brightness.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the S21 FE has the edge. While both are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, the S21 FE benefits from a more advanced image signal processor (ISP) within its Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 chipset. This results in better dynamic range, noise reduction, and overall image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The A72 5G likely relies on more software processing to achieve similar results, potentially leading to softer details. The S21 FE’s video recording capabilities are also expected to be superior, offering features like 4K recording at higher frame rates and improved stabilization.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets. The A72 5G utilizes the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G (8nm), an efficient but mid-range processor. The S21 FE, however, comes in two variants: one with the Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm) and another with the Exynos 2100 (5nm). Both of these are flagship-level chips, offering substantially more processing power. The Snapdragon 888’s Cortex-X1 prime core (2.84 GHz or 2.9 GHz depending on the version) and the Exynos 2100’s equivalent provide a significant boost in single-core performance, crucial for responsive app launches and smooth multitasking. The 5nm process node used in the S21 FE’s chipsets also contributes to better thermal efficiency, reducing the likelihood of throttling during sustained workloads.
Battery Life
Both devices achieve an endurance rating of 92 hours, suggesting comparable battery life in typical usage scenarios. However, the S21 FE compensates for any potential battery capacity differences with its faster 25W wired charging, including PD3.0 support and a 50% charge in 30 minutes. The A72 5G also supports 25W wired charging, but lacks the advanced charging protocols. Furthermore, the S21 FE adds 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging, features absent on the A72 5G, offering greater convenience and versatility.
Buying Guide
Buy the Samsung Galaxy A72 5G if you prioritize long battery life and a lower upfront cost, and your primary use cases are everyday tasks like browsing, social media, and light photography. Buy the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G if you demand faster performance for gaming, video editing, or multitasking, and value a brighter, more vibrant display and a more versatile camera system.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Does the Exynos 2100 chip in the S21 FE overheat during prolonged gaming sessions?
While the Snapdragon 888 is generally considered more efficient, the Exynos 2100 variant of the S21 FE can experience some thermal throttling during extended gaming. However, Samsung implemented software optimizations to mitigate this, and the throttling is typically not severe enough to ruin the gaming experience. The 5nm process node still offers better efficiency than the 8nm Snapdragon 750G in the A72 5G.
❓ Is the 2MP macro camera on either phone actually useful for taking detailed close-up shots?
Generally, 2MP macro cameras on phones in this price range are limited in their usefulness. The low resolution results in images lacking detail and sharpness. While they can be fun to experiment with, don't expect professional-quality macro photography from either the A72 5G or the S21 FE.
❓ Can the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G reliably maintain 60fps in demanding games like PUBG Mobile?
Yes, the Snapdragon 888 or Exynos 2100 in the S21 FE can comfortably run PUBG Mobile at 60fps on high graphics settings. The powerful GPU and ample RAM ensure a smooth and responsive gaming experience. The A72 5G, with its Snapdragon 750G, will likely require lower graphics settings to achieve a stable 60fps.
❓ How does the charging speed of the S21 FE compare to the A72 5G in real-world usage?
The S21 FE’s 25W charging with PD3.0 support delivers a noticeable advantage. It can reach 50% charge in approximately 30 minutes, while the A72 5G will take longer. The addition of 15W wireless charging on the S21 FE also provides a convenient alternative.
